With the objective of sharing details about global efforts to fight coronavirus pandemic and India’s ongoing measures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a video conference with the heads of all of Indian embassies worldwide — the first such event for Indian Missions worldwide.

The Prime Minister said extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions and therefore most of the world had quarantined itself even in this globalised era. Incidentally, this conference was like making assertion about taking unprecedented decisions including lockdown. Modi further said  this was an unavoidable step taken to fight this pandemic, but it was also hugely consequential, as the closure of the globalised system has had an extensive and far-reaching impact upon the international transport system, financial markets and the global economy.

Outlining the measures taken by India, he said the country had taken unprecedented and early steps in response to this pandemic from mid-January this year, to reduce the risk of importing the infection, and thereafter to prevent a large outbreak. This included the world’s largest quarantine and lockdown, implemented by India.

Modi complimented Heads of Missions for their efforts to evacuate Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicentres of the crisis. He also exhorted them to take steps on five specific counts.

The steps included enduring their own health and safety, and that of their teams and families besides attending to Indians who remain in various foreign countries, given the uncertainty of continuing international travel restrictions. He called on Heads of Indian Missions to help boost the morale of such compatriots abroad, address issues arising from their unplanned stay abroad, with their host governments, and other problems Indians might face abroad, including arranging shelter, where necessary and feasible.

He asked them to stay alert and identify in their countries of accreditation best practices, innovations, scientific breakthroughs and sources to procure medical equipment, for India’s fight against COVID-19. He also advised Heads of Mission to suitably publicise the newly-established PM-CARES Fund to mobilise donations from abroad.

Since this crisis also impacts upon the economy, Modi further advised the envoys to also focus on ensuring that commerce in essential supplies, logistics chains, remittances and so on are unaffected, through their coordination with foreign partners.  Lastly, he urged the heads of missions to continue to pay close attention to the evolving international political and economic situation, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, 10 Heads of Mission, in Beijing, Washington DC, Tehran, Rome, Berlin, Kathmandu, Abu Dhabi, Kabul, Male, and Seoul offered their perspectives to the Prime Minister and the rest of the audience. They shared feedback regarding appreciation in their countries of accreditation of the resolute measures taken by India to combat this pandemic.

Heads of Missions outlined their efforts to help Indians stranded abroad, in particular, students and workers. They also reported efforts to identify medicine, medical devices, technologies, research and other measures which might help in India’s own national effort to fight this pandemic.

They also reported lessons learned in other countries, and their best practices, in the global fight against COVID-19. In our neighbourhood, Heads of Mission underlined measures to assist the national responses of those countries, using the special fund created at India’s initiative for SAARC countries to combat COVID-19. The Heads of Mission also expressed gratitude for the guidance and inspiration from the Prime Minister for their work.

Modi emphasised that India’s Missions abroad may well be far from home, but they remain full participants in India’s fight against COVID-19. He emphasised that the unity and alertness of all Indians would help safeguard the nation’s future.